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Table of contentsCriterion 5: NbS are based on inclusive, transparent and empowering governance processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Inclusive governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Case study: Collaborative planning and implementation of urban NbS in Sint Andries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Criterion 6: NbS equitably balance trade-offs between achievement of their primary goal(s) and the continuedprovision of multiple benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Balance trade-offs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Case study: Finding gaps to learn from – food security and fish conservation in Bangladesh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Criterion 7: NbS are managed adaptively, based on evidence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Adaptive management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Case study: Shinyanga. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Criterion 8: NbS are sustainable and mainstreamed within an appropriate jurisdictional context. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Mainstreaming and sustainability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Case Study: El Salvador’s Bonn Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21ivIUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions

Document historyDocument historyIUCN Global Standard for Nature-based SolutionsEdition1.0Source languageEnglish. Official translations available.Responsible UnitGlobal Ecosystem Management Programme; IUCN Commission on Ecosystem ManagementDeveloped byIUCN Nature-based Solutions Group; IUCN Commission on Ecosystem ManagementSubject (Taxonomy)Nature-based Solutions; Standard; Management Effectiveness; AssuranceDate approvedFebruary 2020Approved byIUCN CouncilObjectiveTo provide guidance and a global framework for the design, verification and scaling up of Nature-based Solutions. The Standard includes globallyconsistent Criteria and Indicators, which are supported by the Principles for Nature-based Solutions, to measure the strength of interventions.Is part ofIUCN Nature-based Solutions GroupConforms toIUCN Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS)ISEAL Standard-Setting Code of Good PracticeRelated DocumentsIUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solution Global Standard Background DocumentDistributionIUCN COMPASS; IUCN Union Portal and IUCN websiteDocument HistoryCurrent first editionVersionRelease dateSummary of Changes0.12018 OctShared internally with IUCN Members, Commissions and Secretariat.0.22018 DecAdjustments made from internal feedback and new version presented in the first public consultation lasting one month.0.32019 JanMajor adjustments made from external feedback and new version presented in second public consultation lasting two months.0.42020 FebAdjustments made in line with feedback from second public consultation then adopted by the IUCN Council which approved its releaseduring their 98th Meeting at IUCN World Headquarters, Gland, Switzerland.0.52020 MarchRevisions made based upon external peer review.IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutionsv

Global Standard for Nature-based SolutionsGlobal Standard for Nature-based SolutionsIntroductionBackgroundFor most of the 20th century, decision-makers treated the conservation of nature asperipheral to national and global agendas. At best, it was considered a worthy interest,at worst an obstacle to development. However, growing scientific consensus indicatethat such views were misplaced and that “nature is essential for human existence and goodquality of life”6. Failure to recognise this fact not only results in a model of economic growththat significantly contributes to the loss of biodiversity, it also misses the opportunity toeffectively deploy nature in helping resolve major societal challenges such as climatechange, food security and disaster risk reduction.The sustainable deployment of natural capital, that is the world’s stocks of natural assetswhich include geology, soil, air, water and all living things, has an important role in achievingthe United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. For decades, IUCN has carried outinnovative conservation initiatives that have simultaneously helped protect, manage andrestore the environment while delivering tangible and sustainable benefits for people.This type of approach is now widely known as Nature-based Solutions (Figure 1). It iswell documented that Nature-based Solutions (NbS), such as watershed protection, cangenerate income for local communities as well as benefits for municipalities that dependon these resources for their health and well-being. From investing in the restoration ofdegraded lands and shorelines to optimising the performance of traditional infrastructure,such as dams and levees, there is now overwhelming evidence that shows nature plays acritical role to in meeting our societal needs.Figure 1 “Nature-based Solutions are actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore naturaland modified ecosystems in ways that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, toprovide both human well-being and biodiversity benefits” (IUCN, 2016)IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions1

Global Standard for Nature-based SolutionsIUCN believes that mainstreaming nature conservation into key economic sectors isessential. Increasingly, governments and business alike recognise that NbS are not onlyuseful tools, but imperative for addressing the dual global crises on biodiversity loss andclimate change.mainstream the Standard, and by doing so, help it to evolve as a key conservation anddevelopment tool, together.Research highlights that NbS could provide around 30% of the cost-effective mitigationneeded by 2030 to stabilise warming to below 2 C. They can also provide a powerfuldefence against the impacts and long-term hazards of climate change, which is thebiggest threat to biodiversity. Finding ways to work with ecosystems, rather than relyingsolely on conventional engineered solutions, can help communities adapt to climatechange impacts. Using nature to green cities can also result in significant energy savingsand health benefits.Why do we need the Standard?Many countries are already taking action to include NbS in their national climatestrategies, which is why it is important to ensure that these actions are developedand implemented based on the best criteria and practices available. To help guidethis uptake, IUCN coined the first global definition of NbS in 2016. They are “Actions toprotect, sustainably use, manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems, whichaddress societal challenges, effectively and adaptively, providing human well-being andbiodiversity benefits”.The fundamentals of NbS are derived from established practices such as forestlandscape restoration, integrated water resource management, ecosystem-basedadaptation and mitigation, and ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction, several of whichwere first developed and promoted by IUCN in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Sincethen, governments, business, academia and non-government actors have continued todemonstrate their value.Today, NbS are considered by a wide range of stakeholders as an essential mechanismfor achieving sustainable development. The IUCN Global Standard on Nature-basedSolutions aims to ensure the application of this approach is credible, and its uptaketracked and measured for adaptive management so that its contributions can inspireothers. Furthering this work will require scientific rigour, academic research, goodgovernance and most of all, a willingness on the part of the various parties to help2IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based SolutionsAs NbS enters into policy and is adopted by projects on the ground there is a pressingneed for greater clarity and precision of what the concept entails and what is requiredfor it to be deployed successfully. Without this, the application of NbS could result ininconsistent and ungrounded applications. The Standard, therefore, also provides asystematic learning framework so that lessons can improve and evolve the applications,leading to greater confidence in NbS among decision makers. Similarly, in the absenceof such a Standard, NbS may remain a general concept, only marginally contributing tothe pressing sustainability needs and not realising its full potential. Consequently, theStandard provides an opportunity to create a global user community that helps guideimplementation on the ground, accelerate policy development, and create conservationscience on NbS. Through the Standard, NbS will be based on a common understandingof its interpretation and a shared vision for a just and sustainable world.What does the Standard do?This Standard aims to equip users with a robust framework for designing andverifying NbS that yield the outcomes desired, in solving one or several societalchallenge(s). Based on the feedback of actual and potential NbS users, it has beendeveloped as a facilitative Standard, purposefully avoiding a rigid normative framingwith fixed, definitive thresholds of what NbS ought to achieve. Rather the Standardis designed to support users to apply, learn and continuously strengthen andimprove the effectiveness, sustainability and adaptability of their NbS interventions.It also serves as a mechanism for developing a consistent approach to designing andverifying concrete solutions-orientated outcomes. By using this Standard and deployingyour NbS in a systematic way, the design and execution quality is accounted for and

Global Standard for Nature-based Solutionsthe results can be tracked and linked to global goals as well as research narratives.For individua

restore the environment while delivering tangible and sustainable benefits for people. This type of approach is now widely known as Nature-based Solutions (Figure 1) . It is well documented that Nature-based Solutions (NbS), such as watershed protection, can generate income for local communities as well as benefits for municipalities that depend